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NavSource Online: Amphibious Photo Archive
Lost to enemy action, 30 June 1943 at Rendova

USS McCawley (APA-4)
ex
 USS McCawley (AP-10) (1940 - 1943)


International Radio Call Sign:
Nan - Oboe - Victor - Zebra
NOVZ
Awards, Citations and Campaign Ribbons


Precedence of awards is from top to bottom, left to right
Top Row - Combat Action Ribbon (retroactive, 30 June 1943) - American Defense Service Medal - American Campaign Medal
Bottom Row - Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal - Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (5) - World War II Victory Medal
McCawley Class Transport:
  • Completed in 1928 as the passenger steamer SS Santa Barbara at Furness Shipbuilding Co., Haverton Hill-on-Tees, England
  • Acquired by the US Navy, 26 July 1940
  • Commissioned USS McCawley (AP-10), 11 September 1940, CAPT. Harry D. McHenry USN in command
  • During World War II USS McCawley was initially assigned to the Europe-Africa-Middle East Theater and later to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater and participated in the following campaigns:

    Asiatic-Pacific Campaigns
    Campaign and Dates Campaign and Dates
    Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings, 7 to 9 August 1942 New Georgia Group operation
    New Georgia-Rendova-Vangunu occupation, 30 June 1943
    Guadalcanal (Third Savo), 12 to 15 November 1942 Consolidation of Solomon Islands
    Consolidation of southern Solomon Islands, 8 February to 20 June 1943
    Capture and defense of Guadalcanal
    13 October, 12 and 25 November 1942     		 

  • Reclassified (APA-4), 1 February 1943
  • Final Disposition, lost to enemy action off Rendova Island 30 June 1943
  • Struck from the Naval Register, date unknown
  • USS McCawley earned five battle stars for World War II service
    Specifications:
    Displacement 9,600 t.
    Length 486' 6"
    Beam 633' 6"
    Draft 25' 6"
    Speed 15 kts.
    Complement 304
    Armament
    one single 5"/38 dual purpose gun mount
    four single 3"/50 dual purpose gun mounts
    two twin 40mm AA gun mounts
    eighteen single 20mm, AA gun mounts
    Propulsion steam turbine.
    Click On Image
    For Full Size Image    		 Size Image Description Source
    USS McCawley (AP-10)
    Mccawley 115k
    Namesake

    Col. Charles G. McCawley, USMC, born at Philadelphia, Pa., 29 January 1827, was appointed a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps 3 March 1847. He took part in the storming of Chapultepec and the capture of Mexico City during the Mexican War. He was brevetted first lieutenant 13 September 1847, for gallantry in those actions. In the Civil War, he aided in the capture of Port Royal, S.C., 7 November 1861 and led a detachment of 200 marines to reoccupy the Norfolk Navy Yard, May 1862. He subsequently commanded marine detachments during operations in Charleston Harbor against Forts Wagner, Gregg, and Sumter. For gallant and meritorious conduct during the boat attack on the latter fort, 8 September 1863, he was brevetted major. In 1876 he was appointed colonel commandant, the highest post in the Marine Corps, and served in that position until he retired in 1891. Colonel McCawley died at Philadelphia, 13 October 1891.
    Photo: USMC History Division    		 Bill Gonyo
    Mccawley 412k Sketch from the conversion plan for SS Santa Barbara into USS McCawley (AP-10)
    US Navy Bureau of Ships photo from "U.S. Amphibious Ships and Craft" by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mccawley 115k USS McCawley (AP-10), circa 3 February 1941, while taking part in fleet landing exercises in the Caribbean. Note degaussing cable running around the ship's upper hull, LCP type landing craft on midships davits, and 3"/50 guns installed without any splinter protection.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-466192, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mccawley 137k USS McCawley (AP-10), silhouetted against the Sun, during landing force exercises in the Caribbean, 3 February 1941.
    US Navy photo # NH 97720, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mccawley 156k USS McCawley (AP-10) while undergoing a second-stage conversion at Norfolk Navy Yard, 10 September 1941. The stump of her dummy forefunnel now supports her 2.5m navigational range finder. At this stage the ship still retained her high superstructure, which would be cut down in wartime. The boats shown are just below the level of the former boat deck, and double davits replaced the original liner-type davits. Later they were replaced by triple Welins.
    US Navy Yard Norfolk photo from "US Amphibious Ships and Craft", by Norman Friedman.    		 Robert Hurst
    Mccawley 102k USS McCawley (AP-10), photographed circa 1941-42.
    US Navy photo # NH 97721, from the collections of the US Naval Historical Center.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mccawley 69k USS McCawley (AP-10) steaming with a north Atlantic convoy, circa February 1942. Note blimp flying nearby.
    NARA photo # 80-G-2190, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mccawley 90k RADM Turner and MGEN Vandegrift confer aboard USS McCawley (AP-10) circa July-August 1942 prior to the Guadalcanal landings.
    US National Archives photo # 80-CF-112-4-63, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Gerd Metthes
    Mccawley 149k USS McCawley (AP-10) moored at Wellington, New Zealand, 20 July 1942, waiting to embark Marines for the Guadalcanal-Tulagi invasion force. US Marine Corps LVT(1) amphibian tractors sit on the dock waiting to be loaded.
    NARA photo # 80-G-10760, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 Robert Hurst
    USS McCawley (APA-4)
    Mccawley 114k A camouflaged truck is hoisted on board USS McCawley (APA-4), during preparations for the New Georgia operation, 14 June 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-254930, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mccawley 122k Troops climbing down nets hung over USS McCawley (APA-4)'s, side, to board LCVPs during rehearsals for the New Georgia operation, 14 June 1943.
    US National Archives photo # 80-G-254933, a US Navy photo now in the collections of the US National Archives.    		 US Naval Historical Center
    Mccawley 114k Sketch of the Solomon Islands showing site of the sinking of USS McCawley (APA-4).
    "PT Boats in World War II... The Mosquito Fleet" by Bern Keating.    		 Tommy Trampp
    USS McCawley (APA-4)
    Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships (DANFS)
    Commanding Officers
    01CAPT. McHenry, Harry Dickinson, USN (USNA 1911)11 September 1940 - 7 January 1941AP-10
    02CAPT. McFeathers, Charlie Paul, USN (USNA 1913)7 January 1941 - 24 November 1942AP-10
    03CAPT. Rodgers, Robert Henry, USN (USNA 1923)24 November 1942 - 30 June 1943AP-10 / APA-4
    Courtesy Wolfgang Hechler and Ron Reeves
    Crew Contact And Reunion Information
    U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation - Navy Log
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    Last Updated 1 November 2024